Businesses give outlooks for economy and healthcare

The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce recently conducted a survey asking members questions dealing with health insurance and outlook for the local economy.

The survey indicated that of the 262 respondents roughly two thirds of them offer health insurance to their employees and 63 percent of them plan to continue to offer insurance after the new healthcare bill comes into effect.

"One in four businesses are going to be hiring here locally in the next while we think about six months so that's positive that we will see some jobs coming onto this local market and local economy," said Betsy Bair of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce.

Bair also said businesses look to 2014 to see a full economic recovery in this area. In 2013 54% of those surveyed still view the local economy as weak, but that's up from 59% in 2012.

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